The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-08-25
BURNED IN MID.OCEAN.
The Steamer Montreal Burned Four HuE-
tlred Miles from Land.

BURNED in MlD.OCEAN.
The Steamer Montreal Burned Four HuE-
dred Miles from Land.
QUEENSTOWN, August 1s.--The
steamship York City arrived here to-day
and brought the news of the burning of
the City Of Montreal. She had on board
the crew and passengers of the ill.fated
steamer, with the exception Of thirteen
who perished. The York City was en-
route to London from Baltimore. The
City of Montreal had miscellaneous
cargo, including 1000 bales of cotton,
and the agents OF the line are of the
opinion that the fire originated there.
The vessel was commanded by Capt.
Francis Land, and had crew of eighty
men all told. The City of Montreal was
a ship of 4 ,496 tons, 600 horse power, and
419 feet in length. She was built 1872.
She carried no frst-class passengers, but
had twenty.three intermediate aud fifty
steerage passengers. According to the
statement of the survivors, the fire broke
out among the cotton bales. The cotton
was stored in the after main hatch. The
crew was hastily summoned and hose
we're quickly put in working order and
trained on the fire, when it was realized
that the fire was serious. The course of
the ship was changed about and shaped
for New Fonndland which was four hum
dred miles away. Shortly after this was
done the flames from the burning cotton
attacked the deck and with great force
burst through the deck midway between
the after matches. The force and heat
of the flames was terrible and it was soon
seen that the ship was doomed. Word
was passed that it was impossible to save
the vessel and all attention was given to
lowering the boats and saving the pas
sengers and ships people. A momentary
panic was caused when the captain
decided to abandon the vessel, but all
managed to embark in the boats, all of
which, except one, containing SIX OF the
crew and seven passengers were picked
up by the York City.
The Montreal's boats consisted of four
life boats and four pinnaces, which were
launched and provisioned while the fire
vas 10 progress. They were held in
readiness to use in case it was necessary.
The crew worked all night to put out the
fire. but the fierce flames mastered all
their efforts, and at. o'clock in the
morning the passengers were all mar
shalled on deck ready to embark in the
boats. Many wept; the scene presented
was pitiful; families grouped together,
not knowing if they would be saved Or
not, bidding each other goodbye, which
most felt might be eternal, and claspiDg
each others hands and embracing. On
the whole, however, the passengers
behaved very we'll and caused no panic.
They were more grief stricken and awed
than panic stricken, and the embarking
in the boats was accomplished without
accident. A sea was running and it was
with difficulty that the boats were pre-
vented from being smashed against the
vessel. The crew worked splendidly and
all the passengers were safely placed in
the boats. How they Aoated was mir.
acle, for every boat was loaded to the
gunwale and rising and falling heavily
in the sea. AS the last boat was putting
off from the ship several of the passen.
gers and crew who had been overlooked
in the hurry were discovered in the after
part of the steamer calling for help and
begging the captain for Gods sake not to
leave them. One or two of the boats
returned and rescued them half dead
from the smoke and heat.
The burning masts and rigging of the
Montreal were seen on the horizon by
those on board the York City, and it was
only after ten hours had elapsed that the
latter vessel was able to reach the Mon.
treal and rescue her passengers after
everybody on board of the ill-fated
steamship had embarked in the ships
boats. The boats scattered in the night
though the sea was lighted up for miles
BY the flames, and the boat which is
reported as lost vanished from the sight
of its mates. The boat contained two
seamen and some passengers and has
doubtless been lost.
The occupants of this boat acted in an
outrageous manner, and their fate is
regarded as a just judgment by some.
The boat was one of the first to leave the
ships side, and was not nearly full when
the occupants pushed off against the
captains orders. There was plenty OF
time to take more people aboard. but
those already in the boat sel6shly
insisted upon getting away from the
burning vessel and hurriedly pushed off
and were lost to sight. A bark, which
had not been far off when the fire broke
out, was preparing to take the Montreal's
people on board, when the York City,
which had been attracted by the flames
that shot hundred feet in the air, came
in sight. The York City bad seen the
fire from a long distance, and it was with
difficulty that it bore down upon the
scene of the disaster The steamer man.
aged to pick up all the boats, but the
one which first pushed off. On board
the York City the passengers were
treated with the greatest kindness by the
captain ynd officers, and the passengers
of the Montreal speak with emotion of
the sympathy and aid rendered them on
the York City. The value of the Mon
treal is estimated by the company
between S400, 900 and $500,0O0 which is
fully insured in foreign companies.